Do Flavonoids Slow Cognitive Decline?
A Flavonoid Rich Meal -- with Tuna for Omega-3!
Flavonoids are compounds found in plants. Their functions include providing pigmentation — especially yellow, red and blue tones — and also protecting against the attacks of insects and microbes. Remarkably, they have numerous beneficial effects on the human body and mind as well. A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology (Letenneur et al. 2007) demonstrated that flavonoids may be beneficial for the brain. It measured cognitive decline in the elderly over ten years, and divided the subjects into three groups based on their estimated flavonoid intake. Interestingly, there was a significant negative correlation between flavonoid intake and rate of cognitive decline: those who ate the most flavonoid-rich foods had the lowest rates of cognitive decline, and vice versa. The USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Select Foods is probably the most comprehensive resource out there for determining the flavonoid content of the foods you eat. It’s technical, but well worth the effort to digest!
